7/12 SFG@CHC 12:05pm TV: CSN, Radio: WGN

[ryno4ever]

better late than never.....
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/Opponents/giants/giantslogo.jpg
San Francisco Giants (39-54)

vs.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/cubs2.gif
Chicago Cubs (56-37)

July 12, 2008 … Wrigley Field … Game No. 94 … Home Game No. 48

RHP Kevin Correia (1-5, 4.96)
vs.
RHP Rich Harden (5-1, 2.34 w/OAK)

[ryno4ever]

LATE HOMER LEADS TO WIN: Aramis Ramirez’ three-run blast to break a scoreless tie in the eighth inning led the Cubs to a 3-1 win yesterday vs. San Francisco to start the team’s final series before the break … this is the fifth game of a six-game stand against the Reds (2-1) and Giants (1-0) … Chicago owns the best record in baseball (56-37/.602), percentage points ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays (55-37/.598).

CUBS RECORD
2008 Overall: .............................................56-37
At Wrigley Field: .....................................36-11
On the Road: ..........................................20-26
All-Time Since 1876: .......................10,041-9,495
At Wrigley Field (since 1916): ..........3,862-3,385

CUBS VS. SAN FRANCISCO
The Cubs and Giants close out their season series with this three-game set at Wrigley Field … the club split a four-game set at AT&T Park earlier this season, June 30-July 3 … Chicago looks to win its second straight season series against the Giants, having gone 5-2 against them last year.

2008 Overall: .................................................. 3-2
At Wrigley Field: ..........................................1-0
At AT&T Park: .............................................2-2

2007 Overall: .................................................. 5-2
At Wrigley Field: ..........................................3-1
At AT&T Park: .............................................2-1
All-Time Since 1883: .........................1,040-1,109
At Wrigley Field: ..................................403-379
At AT&T Park (since 2000): ......................16-16

THERIOT BRINGING THE HITS
Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot has collected 107 hits this season, making him Chicago’s first shortstop to have at least 100 hits prior to the All-Star break since Don Kessinger had 101 hits prior to the 1971 break … he also had 123 hits in the first half of 1969.

THREE TIMES NINE
The Cubs are the only team in the majors featuring three starting pitchers with at least nine wins apiece (Dempster and Zambrano, 10 wins; Lilly, 9) … in fact, only two other N.L. clubs have at least two starters with nine wins apiece: St. Louis (Kyle Lohse, 11; Braden Looper, 9) and Atlanta (Tim Hudson, 9; Jair Jurrgens, 9).

SENSATIONAL SOTO
Geovany Soto has hit 16 homers this season, making him the first Cubs rookie to hit at least 16 in a campaign since Mel Hall hit 17 in 1983 … Soto’s 16 long balls are the most by a Cubs rookie catcher since Randy Hundley hit 19 in 1966.

UPCOMING MILESTONES
Milestone...................Player (Number Needed)
200 Home Runs+....................Kosuke Fukudome (1)
400 Games Pitched.............................Jon Lieber (1)
800 Extra Base Hits........................Jim Edmonds (1)
1,200 Innings Pitched.....................Kerry Wood (2.1)
+Professionally, between Chunichi and Cubs

MAJOR LEAGUE LEADERS, RUNS SCORED IN 2008
Rank Team Runs
1. Texas 519
2. Chicago Cubs 497
3. Boston 481

MAJOR LEAGUE LEADERS, RUN DIFFERENTIAL IN 2008
Rank Team Differential
1. Chicago Cubs +107 runs
2. Boston +87 runs
3. Chicago White Sox +82 runs

MAJOR LEAGUE LEADERS, ON-BASE PERCENTAGE IN 2008
Rank Team OBP
1. Chicago Cubs .359
2. Boston .354
3.Texas.353

Ramirez’ homer yesterday was his fourth tie-breaking home run in the eighth inning or later this season.

The Cubs head into the break with seven players named to the N.L. All-Star team, tied with Boston for the most players named to the Mid-Summer Classic.

Today is the fifth game (3-1) of a stretch that sees Chicago play 19 of 29 games at home through August 10.

DEBUT PERFORMANCE: Rich Harden today makes his Cubs debut after the club acquired him, along with Chad Gaudin, Tuesday from Oakland … Harden will become the ninth starter used by Chicago this season, the first to make his Chicago debut.

QUITE THE TURNAROUND…Staring at a 22-31 record and a 7.5-game deficit in the N.L. Central at the start of play June 3, 2007, the Cubs last year went 63-46 in their final 109 games starting June 3 to win the National League Central … the Cubs have the best record in the N.L. in the last 13 months starting June 3, 2007.

BEST RECORD IN MAJORS, STARTING JUNE 3, 2007
Team Rec. Pct.
1. Yankees 120-82 .594
2. CUBS 119-83 .589
3.Angels114-84.576

Last season, two Cubs made their franchise debut as starters: Ted Lilly April 4 at Cincinnati (W, 7.0 IP, 1 ER) and Jason Marquis April 5 at Cincinnati (ND, 6.0 IP, 1 ER).

WALK IN THE PARK: The Cubs have drawn 20 walks over their last four games, and have 374 on the year with two games remaining before the All-Star break … the club record for most free passes before the break is 375, done in 1973 (98 games) … Chicago’s 374 free passes this season rank first in the majors while St. Louis is second with 365.

In 2006, the Cubs drew just 395 walks the entire season … this year’s club is just 21 away from that mark.

BREAK TO BREAK: Chicago is 97-71 (.577) since the previous All-Star break, and the 97 wins rank first in the N.L. and are third in the majors (Yankees, 100; Boston, 98) … in that span, Cubs pitchers have struck out 1,236 batters, tops among in the majors.

Carlos Zambrano’s 18 victories since the start of the second half of last season are tied for third-most in the majors (Brandon Webb leads with 23) … Bob Howry has stranded 90-percent of inherited runners in that span (27-of-30) – tops in the majors.

Cubs hitters have 351 doubles since the last All-Star break, tops in the N.L.

AS OF LATE…: The Cubs have won four of five and are 7-4 over their last 11 dating to June 30 … Chicago today looks to go a season-high 20-games over .500 for the fourth time this season (45-25, 48-28, 49-29) … Chicago is 2-0-1 in its last three series after going 1-3-0 in its previous four series, June 17-29.

The Cubs 4.5-game lead in the Central ties their season high … the last time Chicago was more than 4.5-games up was June 29, 2001, when it was 5.5 up.

INCHING TOWARDS THE BREAK: With two games to go, the Cubs have reached 56 wins before the All-Star Break for the first time since 1969, when they totaled 61 victories … Chicago’s 56 victories this year by far surpass their win total prior to the All-Star Break last season when they were 44-43.

SEVEN NAMED TO ALL-STAR SQUAD: Outfielders Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome and catcher Geovany Soto have been voted by fans to start the 79th All-Star Game to be played Tuesday, July 15 at Yankee Stadium … pitchers Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano and infielder Aramis Ramirez have been named to the team as reserves … manager Lou Piniella will serve as a National League coach.

WINNING WAYS AT WRIGLEY: The Cubs 36-11 start at home is their best start at Wrigley Field since the club began playing here in 1916 … the last time Chicago had a better start than 36-11 in its first 47 home decisions (excluding ties) was in 1907 at the West Side Grounds (37-10) … Chicago has won 18 of 21, 21 of its last 25, 25 of its last 30 and 32 of its last 38 at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs lead the majors with a .307 batting average and .388 on-base percentage at home this season … their .497 slugging percentage leads the N.L. (second in baseball).

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Chicago has held sole possession of first place in the N.L. Central for each of the last 47 days starting at the end of play May 26 … the Cubs have had sole possession or been in a tie for first place for the last eight weeks (62 days) starting May 11.

The Cubs have had a lead of no less than 2.5 games or a lead of no more than 4.5 games for each of the last 42 days starting at the end of play on May 31.

ON THE RECORD: At 56-37, the Cubs became the first National League team to reach 50 wins this year … the Cubs reached 50 wins before the end of June for the first time since 1969, when the club was 50-27 with one tie through the end of play on June 30 … 1969 is the only other time the Cubs reached 50 wins by the start of July in club history.
At 56-37, Chicago’s off to its best start in its first 93 games since beginning the 1969 season 57-36.

[ryno4ever]

ABOUT HARDEN


About Harden
Harden, 26, was acquired by Chicago along with reliever Chad Gaudin from Oakland on Tuesday, in exchange for pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, infielder Eric Patterson and catcher Josh Donaldson.

Is 36-19 with a 3.42 ERA (206 ER/541.2 IP) in 97 games (89 starts) in all or part of six seasons with the A’s from 2003-2008.

Against the N.L., owns a 5-1 record with a 1.81 ERA (11 ER/54.2 IP) in 10 career appearances.

A native of Victoria, British Columbia, he has amassed a 10-3 record with a 2.95 ERA (49 ER/149.1 IP) during the last three seasons, limiting opponents to a .201 batting average, though five stints on the disabled list have limited him to 29 games (26 starts).

When tossing at least 7.0 innings, has compiled an 18-3 mark with a 1.45 ERA (35 ER/217.1 IP) in those 29 starts.

Has allowed one run or fewer in 35 of his 89 career starts (39.3%) but is 19-0 with 16 no decisions in those starts … is 31-0 in 39 career starts when the club scores four runs or more while he’s in the game and 34-2 (.944) with run support of three or more while he’s on the mound.

Was 11-7 with a 3.99 ERA in 31 starts for Oakland in 2004, marking his first full season in the majors … made his big league debut in 2003 at the age of 21 years, 233 days.

Has made three postseason appearances (one start) with the A’s in the 2003 Division Series vs. Boston (two outings, one start) and in 2006 against the Tigers in the ALCS.

Named Minor League Pitcher of the Year by SportsTicker in 2003 and was the A’s Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2002 and 2003.

Last Time Out

In his final start with the A’s July 6 in Chicago against the White Sox, was tagged with his first loss of the season after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks in 5.0 innings of work … struck out four.

2008 Season

Rich today makes his first career start for the Cubs … has allowed two or fewer earned runs in his last five starts and in 11 of 13 outings this season … has averaged 10.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings of work, fanning 92 in 77.0 innings – has walked just 31. ©

His 10.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings leads major league starters (min. 13 GS) while his .211 batting average against ranks fifth.

Landed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder from April 10-May 11 … included brief rehab stints with Triple-A Sacramento and Single-A Stockton.

In four starts against the N.L. prior to the trade, was 3-0 with a 0.68 ERA (2 ER/26.2 IP), limiting the opponent to a .132 batting average.

Limiting right-handed hitters to a .187 batting average (26-for-139) while left-handed batters have a .225 mark (31-for-138).

Was 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA (6 ER/32.1 IP) in five June starts … was the first time he made five starts in a month since April 2006.

Went 5-0 with a 2.25 ERA (18 ER/72.0 IP) in his first 12 starts this season … joined Chuck Dobson in 1971 and Dick Bosman in 1976 as the only other A’s to go undefeated through their first 12 starts.

Notable 2008 Starts

Made his season debut in Japan, earning the win in Oakland’s 5-1 victory against Boston at the Tokyo Dome March 26 … allowed one run on three hits and a three walks while striking out nine.

Notched his second win May 17 at Atlanta, tossed 7.0 innings of one-run ball … went 1-for-2 at the plate, notching his first career hit off Tim Hudson.
Won his second consecutive start May 23 vs. Boston, as the A’s plated seven runs in the first three innings … he allowed two earned runs in 6.0 innings of work.

Threw 6.0 shutout innings June 14 at San Francisco in the A’s 4-0 victory … allowed just three baserunners (H, 2 BB) while striking out nine.

Set a career high with 11 strikeouts in a 5-0 win vs. Philadelphia June 26 … went 8.0 innings while allowing just two hits.

[ryno4ever]

VERY awesome ovation Harden got as he left the game! :) I'm thinking I'm really gonna like this guy!

[ryno4ever]

Theriot owes us a basehit here.... he threw that ball away that scored the tying run.

[ryno4ever]

Okay.... a walk will do.... just don't get caught stealing!

[ryno4ever]

Come on big boys....GET THE RIOT IN!!!!!

[ryno4ever]

Your turn to be the hero, DeeLee